Maverick cleric's (Moqtads al-Sadr) election upset could rattle U.S.-Iraq relations
BAGHDAD — The surprisingly strong showing of a ticket backed by maverick cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in Iraqi elections over the weekend will force U.S. officials to recalculate how best to pursue American interests in the region at an especially sensitive moment.
Sadr’s ticket won the most seats in Iraq’s parliamentary election, according to results from all 18 provinces released Monday, placing him in the best position to select the country’s next prime minister and set the course for how the nation emerges from a costly war against the Islamic State.
The Shiite cleric first gained international notice as a young militia leader who fought U.S. troops after the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
But Sadr has grown increasingly pragmatic over the years and formed a cross-sectarian electoral alliance emphasizing Iraqi nationalism over loyalty to Iranian clerics and American military and political backing. He has also broken ranks with Iraq’s Shiite establishment by denouncing Iran’s involvement in Syria’s civil war and its bid for expanded influence in Iraq.
“He’s the only politician with a clear vision for Iraq,” said a Western diplomat who spoke on the condition of anonymity to give a frank assessment of Sadr. “Iraq first, eradicate corruption and a technocratic government.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/surprise-showing-by-maverick-cleric-could-shake-up-iraqs-relations-with-the-us/2018/05/14/55258a72-5535-11e8-a6d4-ca1d035642ce_story.html
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